Chora, Folegandros Island, Cyclades, Greece

© Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Image

Elysium on Earth. Folegandros Island, Cyclades, Greece

Ever dreamed of exploring a Greek island with a mysterious past? Welcome to Folegandros! A gem among the Greek islands, Folegandros is in the southern Cyclades Islands, alongside Sikinos, Ios, Anafi and Santorini. Although not much is known about the island's ancient history, its earliest inhabitants are believed to have been Dorians, one of the four major ethnic groups of Classical Greece. It later came to be ruled by Athens. During this period, there was a polis, or city state, on the island, called Pholegandros. This city state stood where the modern capital, Chora—seen in today's image—is located. Chora is perched on the edge of a 200-metre cliff and offers a bird's-eye view of its beautiful surroundings. Built by the Venetians in 1212, the town is now a popular tourist destination, with its charming squares and traditional whitewashed churches.